It is the "based on the true story of" prize fighters Micky and Dicky Ward (and family). It is the story of Dicky's fighting demise into drugs and recovery, and Micky's rise to fighting stardom. It is a very basic, uncomplicated story. However, the family is nothing short of jaw-dropping.
I can't really tell you that I enjoyed the movie. It is dark, and the dysfunction of the Ward family is so deep and so appalling, and so shocking (to me), that I felt ill half the time. I'm not a huge boxing movie fan either. Violence as sport is something I have never been able to understand and it is physically difficult for me to watch. But I can look beyond that and am glad to have been witness to such incredible performances. The highs and lows that these actors had to go through to meet the challenges of the characters they played is nothing short of heroic. True artists every one. There was not a shabby or shallow performance in the entire film.
It gets its R rating for prolific swearing (which is just how they are), for scenes of drug use, and of course, no doubt for boxing violence. I looked away during most of the fight scenes, but my impression is that they are well-done and not graphic in nature.
I can only recommend this movie for the performances. Sort of like Monster's Ball (a horrible movie, but Hallie Berry was stretched beyond measure in her performance).
Lord have mercy! My last name is Ward, and I thought MY family had dysfunction.....I take it all back. We are shining examples of health compared to this Ward family. A therapist's nightmare. Nine kids (7 girls, and two boys). I'm really glad they are so close, cuz I can't imagine who else would tolerate them. My synapses were fried just watching them on film. I would need serious medication to be in the same room with them. It's a bit like Jersey Shore in a single family.
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